The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-06
VOICE OF TIE PEOPLE.
n Werd on Prohibition and n

a word on Prohibition ana the
To the Editor Of the Appeal;
The unexpected appearance in Mon
days APPEAL Of an outline OF my ser.
mon on the sin OF intemperance
seems to render II proper that /
should add word Of explanation.
OF course it Is impossible that DO
brief an outline could reproduce the
Limitations and checks with which
the statements were set forth In the
sermon. For example, the reporter
did not catch the exact word when he
represents me az applying the term
"weakline" to those who choose to
adopt total abstinence" as their pri.
vsts rule. am confident that no
such word escaped me, and I do not
hesitate now to repudiate any such
thought or feeling toward q body Of
men and women among whom are
found hundreds OF the noblest and
best Christians living. Ga the con-
trary, distinctly stated that II any.
one chose total abstinence" as his
private rule he was perfectly
Tree, as christian, 30 to do,
for there Ia no law eDioin.
ing the use OF wine. And, fur.
thsrmore, / was careful to cay that
for some men II seemed necessary to
abstain wholly-and they by no means
are "weaklings".in body OF mind. Bat
emphasis was laid upon this limit TO
the rule OF total abstinence, that
neither churches or individuals have
the authority TO require II OF all men,
inssmuch 90 neither Christ nor his
apostles have laid 1t down. The age
In which the Master lived (if that
has anything to do with his lsws),
was at least as much given TO drink.
ing az ours 10, as all who knows the
history OF those times will admit, but
he laid down no such Aw-nor can
any christian do 90.
Az 10 the separate jurisdictions OF
church and state, IL might be we'll for
me TO mention what was fully set
forth In the sermon. that many excel
lent things can be done. ought TO be
done, by eitisens on secular days and
In their civil capacity which cannot
be even discussed by ministers on the
Lords day aud during the solemnities
Of public worship. Society has ample
authority 10 devise and enforce meas-
ures 10 protect itself a. far as may be
against The horrible evils OF intemper.
ance. And when these measures have
been legally enacted they bind the
christians 10 obedience with one lim.
itauon only-that nothing be enacted
by man which Ia forbidden by q od In
the scriptures. OF this an illustration
was found Ia nv text. I. Oorinth.
ians, vi, Gard 10 The public law
OF Rome sustained and required idol.
airy. But the inspired apostle here
teschts that compliance with that Law
would result In the eternal ruin OF
man.
TIE sum OF II oil Ia that the church
and her ministry are limited ~ 20 the
good thing, which they may attempt
10 do. The scriptures, fairly inter.
preted, are their only warrant 10 do
anything, When scripture is client
the ministry are 10 b. silent also.
Gods law 10: "Thou thalt hear the
wori st my mouth and warn them
from me-" 1 am, OF course, aware OF
the attempted refutation-"We, a,
ministers aud CHURCHES, do not deal
with pro libitlon "A political
matter, but a. at moral question"
The reiutstlon breaks down because II
assumes without proof, aud in the
lace OF scripture, that the church aud
the ministry have been aptolsied by
the Lord 10 settle all questions which
contain q moral element This would
be, as Mr.. Gladsto IL observer, nothing
mole than claiming power o settle all
questions OF human conduct, since
man can do abs llutely nothing which
does not involve moral element.
And, bs,idee, this Argument necessa-
nly leads mp 10 the ssd mistakes
90 generally made by churches
and ministers t the secesslon era.
They argued then that because seces-
sion involved the most solemn moral
Issues hich no man In his senses
can ever deny) therefore the church,
through her ministry, was bound TO
decide the mater by the dread an
thoritv erd name OF the King
OF King 49, Ill deplofs ihs error
which .uaiod church against church,
pulpit against pulpit, then by bring.
Ing unspeakable leprosoh on religion
and twisting scripture 90 II Il mad
been q nose VI wtx, TO favor or else 10
condemn the sail same propositions.
The only remedy for such psinful sn
shameful scenes 10 for the ministry 10
keep strictly within tho limits, lesv-
Ing TO ciuEsns In their political ca.
pscity all such measures ~ prohibi.
uon-a measure which, As all know, 10
not 90 much 40 limited At the scrip.
lures.
And now, having said this by way
oil explanation, l am free 10 add th Il
prohibition does not, In my opinion,
Involve any necessary opposition to
tbs scriptures, and IL therefore q mat
ter OF which zach christian man 10
leil Tree IN ijrm his own opinion.
This IL said OF the Measure itself, not OF
all the Arguments &C vanced % sustain
II. And, sctipg In my capacity ~ q
eilisen, l am ready not only 10 COM
ply with the Law when enscied, a. II
will surely BE- In some shape, bat OF
vose Tor u 90 the best thing nov und "
consideration. Toe main point, 90 all
know, 10 the saloon" Aud be, In my
opinion, reads but p 'orly the sisns Of
the times vno does not rec written
upon the wall the SURE doom OF the
dram shop. Toe doom tss already
been formulated and Lst de hat a short
while Tor lie promnlsa'ion. God speed
tbs dAy wiLlI,x 4. Booos.
Glad, sd Vet sich st Heart.
10 the Editor Of the Appeals
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